Digvijaya talks dual power, says Sonia Gandhi No. 1

The Congress may have rejected Digvijaya Singh’s remarks made earlier this month that the dual power centre model in the government hasn’t worked well, but that hasn’t stopped him from stoking the controversy once again.

In an interview with Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN’s Devil’s Advocate, he said Sonia Gandhi is the face of the party and “always ahead” in the hierarchy.

“The fact remains that Sonia Gandhi is the president and the face of the Congress. She had the mandate of the people who elected us, so she is the leader. The ranking by itself in the Congress hierarchy is always Sonia Gandhi is ahead,” he said.

He added that Gandhi has never interfered in the functioning of the government.

“But the fact remains that the impression that goes out, the perception that goes around, it doesn’t really help,” Singh said, adding that the system of two power centers creates uncertainties. Explaining his remarks made earlier this month – when he had said the separation of powers between Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi hasn’t worked – he said: “The question was asked in reference to Rahul Gandhi – whether he would, provided we get the mandate of the people, like to become the PM? So I had said I think he should become the PM if we have the mandate and, of course, it is always better to have one point at which the buck stops,” he said.